Assembly Bill 481

Overview

On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law seven major peace officer reform bills, including Assembly Bill (AB) 481. AB 481 was authored by Assembly member David Chieu (D-San Francisco) to address the funding, acquisition, and use of items lawmakers deemed to be considered "military equipment." You can explore the details of AB 481 Bill here.

This bill requires law enforcement agencies, including the Milpitas Police Department, "to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined." View more of the AB 481 Proposed Ordinance (PDF) here.

Furthermore, AB 481 requires similar approval for the continued use of Controlled Equipment "military equipment" acquired by the Milpitas Police Department prior to January 1, 2022, and allows the governing body to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it determines that the equipment meets specified standards.

Categories of Military Equipment

As stated in AB 481 Definition of Military Equipment (Government Code 7070), the following items were broken into 15 categories and defined as military equipment:

  • Category 1: Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles
  • Category 2: Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles or armored personnel carriers
  • Category 3: High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached
  • Category 4: Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants
  • Category 5: Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units
  • Category 6: Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind
  • Category 7: Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
  • Category 8: Firearms and ammunition of.50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotguns and standard-issue shotgun ammunition
  • Category 9: Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than.50 caliber, including firearms and accessories identified as assault weapons in Penal Code § 30510 and Penal Code §30515, with the exception of standard-issue handguns
  • Category 10: Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles
  • Category 11: Noise-flash diversionary devices and explosive breaching tools
  • Category 12: Munitions containing tear gas or OC, excluding standard, service-issued handheld pepper spray
  • Category 13: TASER® Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic devices
  • Category 14: Kinetic energy weapons and munitions
  • Category 15: Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state agency to require additional oversight

The Milpitas Police Department is in current possession of items in Categories 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14. from the above list (AB 481 Inventory). All items currently in possession of the Milpitas Police Department have been approved during the associated budgetary periods commensurate with the items purchased prior to the passage of AB 481.

Requirements of AB 481

AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to initiate adoption of a written military equipment use policy by ordinance in a public forum by April 30, 2022, in order to continue the use of this previously acquired military equipment effective May 1, 2022. The Milpitas Police Department is providing information to our residents on the following required actions under AB 481:

  • Post a draft of the military equipment policy: View the Milpitas Police Department's draft Controlled Equipment "Military Equipment" Policy (AB 481 Policy) (PDF) here. The AB 481 newly defined list of "military equipment" currently in the Milpitas Police Department's possession is included in the draft Controlled Equipment Policy.
  • Establish a concern or complaint process. The Milpitas Police Department always has had a means for the public to submit complaints online or in-person.
  • Prepare an Annual Report to include the use of military equipment, any complaints received, any internal audits or other information about violations of the Milpitas Police Department's Controlled Equipment Policy, the cost of such use and other similar information. This webpage will be utilized for distribution of any updates to the above materials as well as the Annual Report. The first Annual Report will be distributed on or around February 2023.

Public Input Regarding AB 481

Documents have been uploaded on this website 30 days prior to a public meeting to hold the first reading of the AB 481 ordinance, in order to meet the requirements of AB 481. Members of the public are encouraged to email the Milpitas Police Department's Controlled Equipment Coordinator at, with any questions or concerns.